Salobreña Beaches

Salobreña has eight kilometres of coastline about half of which is made up of the popular beaches of La Guardia, El Peñon, La Charca and Punta del Rio. All these beaches are within easy reach of the town and attract a large number of summer visitors. To the west of Salobreña the coastline is peppered with small coves and beaches where access is more difficult because of the high cliffs.

You'll find this stretch of the coast well served with chiringuitos (beach bars) and a variety of restaurants along the "paseo maritimo" seafront promenade. There are plenty of watersports available including diving, fishing, beach volleyball and windsurfing.

You won't find the fine white sands of the Costa Blanca here Salobreña's beaches consist of a greyish shingle so if you're a serious sunbather you may want to hire a sun bed (there are plenty available in the summer months) or take a folding chair or air mattress with you.

The beaches are divided in two by the imposing Gran Peñon (literally Big Rock) which juts out into the Mediterranean and affords magnificent views of the coastline and mountains behind Salobreña. The rock served as a prison in the first and second centuries and later became a Christian burial ground.

An artificial reef has been created a little way offshore from the Peñon to encourage and nurture a greater variety of marine life. The project has proved a huge success and the Peñon is now a popular spot for underwater exploration by divers and snorkellers. Diving equipment and tuition are available at the local diving centre based at Hotel Salobreña.

You'll find a wealth of water sports and some good dive sites a short way along the coast at Motril Marina (to the east of the town) and Marina del Este (a short drive east at Herradura).

The port at Motril has moorings for 168 boats, boat hire, plentiful watersports and bars and restaurants in and around the marina.

Marina del Este is a good place to visit for shopping, eating, drinking and especially water based activities. The Scuba Med Diving Club arranges some fascinating trips to local dive sites there are cave mazes to explore, a wealth of sea life, underwater wrecks and the 16 metre deep Conger Cavern (so named because the entrance is guarded by a large conger eel!)

Depending on what time of year you're visiting Salobreña, you may be able to enjoy one of the local Spanish fiestas down at the seafront. July 16th sees the traditional maritime procession when an effigy of the Virgen del Carmen is carried out to sea followed by a flotilla of small boats.

On October 8th there's one of the town's biggest fiestas in honour of Salobreña's patron saint, the Virgen del Rosario. Local Spaniards and visitors alike gather at the beach to enjoy a time honoured "romeria" (outdoor party).